Types and Stages of Periodontitis in Dogs

Like in humans, dogs are not immune to oral diseases. In fact, they may be particularly susceptible to such problems, because many pet owners neglect to care for their dog's oral hygiene. Since small breed dogs are more susceptible to periodontitis than larger breeds, I make sure to brush my little Maltese-Yorkie's teeth daily.

Periodontitis is a series of inflammatory diseases involving the periodontium, or the tissue surrounding the teeth. It is caused by microorganisms that grow on the tooth's surfaces, and may lead to a loss of teeth if left untreated. What are the various types and stages of periodontitis in dogs?

Gingivitis: This is a non-destructive periodontal disease. Without treatment, it may progress to periodontitis.

Chronic periodontitis: This type of periodontitis has few signs and symptoms, so it may easily progress to the next level of seriousness without being diagnosed.

Aggressive periodontitis: This form is much less common than chronic periodontitis, and it may be in the form of either localized or generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease: Systemic factors change the periodontitis mainly through their effects on the normal inflammatory and immune mechanisms.

Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis: This is a sub-classification of necrotizing periodontal disease, which is simply an infection of the gums.

Abscesses of the periodontium: There are four types of abscesses associated with the periodontal tissue: gingival abscesses, periodontal abscesses, pericoronal abscesses, and combined periodontal or endodontic abscesses.

Combined periodontic-endodontic lesions: They are are localized, circumscribed areas of bacterial infection that originate from dental pulp or periodontal tissues surrounding the teeth.

Stages of Periodontitis

Other factors are involved in the type or stage of periodontitis, as well: extent of the periodontitis and grade. The disease may extend to the: mesiobuccal, mid-buccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual, mid-lingual, and distolingual areas of the mouth. The stage may be one of the following:

Grade 1: Inflammation
Grade 2: Inflammation, edema, and gingival bleeding upon probing
Grade 3: Inflammation, edema, gingival bleeding upon probing, pustular discharge, and slight to moderate bone loss
Grade 4: Inflammation, edema, gingival bleeding upon probing, pustular discharge, mobility, and severe bone loss

If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should bring him to the veterinarian as soon as possible to diagnose and treat the problem before it becomes worse. If your dog is not treated for periodontitis, he may experience painful teeth and gums, seemingly causing a lack of appetite. He may eventually lose the affected tooth or teeth if the periodontitis is not treated in a timely manner.

References
All Pets Dental: Periodontal Disease